The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has apologized to the state governors over his comment on the N30 billion hardship allowance allegedly given to them.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Mr Akpabio had last week said an “unverified report” indicated that state governors received N30billion each from the federation’s account to cushion the effect of inflation and the high cost of food prices.
But the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and his Akwa Ibom state counterpart, Umo Eno, dismissed the claim.
In a statement issued by his media aide on Monday, Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate president said his comment was quoted out of context.
The statement read: “The Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to various misconceptions in the public domain on the statement credited to the President of the Senate in the plenary of Wednesday, February 21, 2024, during the presentation of a report of the joint Committees on Finance, Agriculture/Food Sufficiency, Banking, and Insurance.
“During the session, the President of the Senate commented on the payment of an unverified cumulative sum of about N30bn to the sub-national governments by the Federal Government for various interventions to ameliorate the food situation of our citizens at the sub-national governments.
“The unfortunate conjectures to take away the kernel in the material facts of FAAC payment are rather regrettable.
“In considering the well-intended motive of urging state governments to collaborate with the Federal government of President Bola Tinubu to facilitate strategic interventions to mitigate the prevailing economic situation in the country, remains the underpinning motivation in the comment.
“The President of the Senate is not oblivious to the fact that state governments are functional partners in all the efforts of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu and are also valuable stakeholders’ in the various legislative engagements of the legislature in creating the nexus between the legislature and the people.”
Mr Eyiboh added that Senate President has always demonstrated commitment to team building and shall not do less in the circumstance.
He, therefore, urged the sub-national governments not to be distracted by any misunderstanding of the context and true meaning of the statement.
“The President of the Senate recognises and appreciates the current efforts of the governors at ameliorating the adverse effects of the current inclement socio-economic environment and therefore invites more hands on the plow to complement the renewed hope agenda,” he added.
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